Chicago high school debaters take on the ‘most important things in the world’

By Emily Olsen It’s late on a Friday evening, but the cafeteria at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences is packed, filled with students chatting, eating pizza and prepping for their first debate tournament of the season. “I was nervous for the first bit, but I think it was actually a really great experience […]

Hand-picked CPS board no longer works for parents who want their own vote

If local parents and community groups have their say, the Chicago Board of Education would be an elected body. (Meredith Francis/MEDILL)

By Meredith Francis and Emily Olsen While many are already casting their ballots for the presidential election, some Chicago parent and community groups are demanding the opportunity to cast a vote for their local school board. “Parents, people across the city have had enough. We want an elected school board and we want it now,” […]

Looming state budget cuts set up cultural clash at centers for students of color

By Alex Ortiz Brittney Hopgood graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2014 with a degree in industrial design. The high point? Getting a part-time job as a African-American Cultural Center marketing assistant. She had struggled to find an internship within her major to gain experience, and there, she found opportunity — and […]

U.S. Senate race is Milwaukee Muslims’ hope for another Washington ally

Milwaukee Wisconsin Mosque

By Maryam Saleh Milwaukee area Muslims’ support for Hillary Clinton is “unenthusiastic” and “reluctant,” largely stirred by Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric, say community members and leaders. But there is one candidate they emphatically stand behind: Democrat Russ Feingold.

New early voting location draws more traffic

Early Voting

by Christen Gall Reyna Hernandez wanted to make a difference in the election by casting her vote early on the second day of the early voting period. “It felt like a really important statement and to see the numbers changing early, that’s one of the other reasons why I think voting early was important because […]